blood and thunder the epic story of kit carson

Much of the work of a regimental commander entailed writing and reading the myriads of reports written to or by a commanding officer – commissary supplies, quartermaster inventories, daily unit strength rosters, orders, and operating procedures.

He organized the gathering volunteers into eight companies. This would be Carson’s first experience as a unit commander, faced with its organizational, administrative, tactical, and leadership responsibilities.Īfter a few weeks scouting for Texan invaders near Fort Union in northeast New Mexico, Carson moved to Albuquerque where he began learning his trade as a commander. When, on September 21, the regiment’s colonel resigned, Carson assumed full command. He appointed Carson the Lieutenant Colonel of the First New Mexico Volunteer Infantry Regiment. In the 1840’s, Carson had served as an army scout under Fremont and, later, General Stephen Kearny. The governor knew that Carson had military experience. Fremont’s writings, pulp novels of the “blood and thunder” genre, and an as-told-to autobiography. Carson was also widely known to the American public as a mountain man and explorer through John C. Over the years, he was a friend to territorial governors, army commanders, merchants, and ranchers.

Courtesy of the Library of Congress.Ĭarson was a renowned figure in New Mexico Territory. Among the first to step forward was Christopher (Kit) Carson. He ordered the civilian territorial governor to call for volunteers to fight the Confederates. Canby got wind that Sibley was recruiting troops in San Antonio, Texas, for the invasion. In New Mexico, the United States Army commander, Colonel Edward R. Davis authorized Sibley to raise three regiments of mounted infantry in Texas and lead them on an invasion of New Mexico Territory. Perhaps, because it was an easy decision - hazarding a battalion of about three thousand Texans in return for a vast southwestern empire. Davis did not document the meeting nor record his thoughts about the risks and benefits of the mission. troops and a handful of Mexican units patrolled this vast region. Sibley proposed a campaign to conquer what is now New Mexico, Arizona, California, Colorado, and the northern Mexico states of Chihuahua and Sonora. He had resigned from the United States Army while serving as a major in New Mexico Territory. In early July, 1861, Henry Hopkins Sibley met with Jefferson Davis in Richmond. Territory and Military Department of New Mexico, U.S. Today, we are pleased to welcome guest author Ray Shortridge.

Blood and thunder the epic story of kit carson